Airlines missed out when President Obama's economic stimulus package sailed through Congress earlier this year without federal dollars to urgently replace the nation's antiquated air traffic control system that keeps planes from colliding.

Electronic boarding passes, which let travelers use a barcode sent to their smartphones to clear security and board, have previously been limited to domestic and regional fliers. Lufthansa says it became the first airline to introduce the service on intercontinental flights, when it used the technology this month for its Frankfurt-Vancouver, British Columbia, route. The German carrier plans to extend its use to more long-haul routes over the next few weeks.

Newark Liberty, one of the USA's most congested airports, says it will be the first major domestic airport to test a new navigation technology aimed at reducing flight delays. Ground Based Augmentation System uses global-positioning satellites to spot planes rather than the radar-based system currently in use. The airport says the system will enable planes to fly closer together without reducing safety.

SuperShuttle International, which offers shared van service from airports, will open at Raleigh-Durham International on Jan. 3. It will begin with 15 vans and build up as necessary. SuperShuttle serves 28 airports, carrying more than 8 million passengers a year.